ExtremeRavens Posted March 13 Posted March 13 The first wave of the free agency frenzy has slowed, with moves now coming at a more measured pace. But Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and vice president of football administration Nick Matteo, among others in the front office, have been busy. In addition to re-signing left tackle Ronnie Stanley, adding wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and other moves, they’ve been clearing out much-needed salary cap space. A $13.39 million chunk of it was opened up with the restructuring of All-Pro slot cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s contract. Per Russell Street Report and Over The Cap, Baltimore utilized a maximum contract restructure, reducing what was an $18 million salary for 2025 to the NFL minimum of $1.255 million and converting the rest to a $16.74 million bonus. Two void years were also added. That’s way down from what was scheduled to be a $25.38 million cap hit for 2025, which was second on the team to only quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson’s. Humphrey, whose contract runs through 2027, also now has three total void years on his deal through 2029. Restructuring the contract of Humphrey — rather than extending it beyond the 2026 season — was one of the many priorities this offseason with the cornerback turning 29 in July. It also comes after what was a bounce-back season after an injury-plagued 2023 for the 16th overall draft pick in 2017, who was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time and was a force all over the field and particularly on the inside. In a critical Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium, Humphrey intercepted a Russell Wilson pass early in the fourth quarter and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to help seal a 34-17 win. Six games earlier, in a showdown at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, it was his interception of a Joe Burrow pass ripped from the hands of Ja’Marr Chase that shifted momentum and helped spark a wild 35-34 comeback victory. And in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had two first-half interceptions in an eventual 41-31 win. Humphrey finished the season with 67 tackles, including a career-high five tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a career-high six interceptions. He will also be heavily relied upon again in the Ravens’ secondary this season with a thin and inexperienced group behind him. Brandon Stephens signed with the New York Jets in free agency and veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White, whom Baltimore traded for at the deadline last year, is also an unrestricted free agent. The only other cornerbacks on the Ravens’ roster for now are second-year standout and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins, fourth-year veteran but oft-injured Jalyn Armour-Davis and unproven 2024 fourth-round pick T.J. Tampa. DeCosta is fond of saying that Baltimore can never have too many cornerbacks, and it’s likely he’ll add more in free agency as well as with at least some of the Ravens’ 11 picks in next month’s draft. Creating more salary cap space helps that endeavor. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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